Emesis due to cancer chemotherapy: results of a prospective, randomised, double-blind trial of varying doses of metoclopramide in the management of cis-platinum-induced vomiting.

A randomised, double-blind prospective trial was conducted to determine the relative anti-emetic efficacy of three dose levels of metoclopramide in cancer patients receiving combination chemotherapy including cis-platinum. With consecutive courses of chemotherapy, 60 patients received doses of either 3,5 or 10 mg/kg metoclopramide (50, 54 or 55 courses respectively) in a randomly assigned sequence. Major control of emesis (less than or equal to 2 vomits) was achieved in 38% of 159 patient treatments. There were no significant differences in either anti-emetic efficacy or the incidence of side-effects between the three doses used. It is concluded that while metoclopramide is an effective anti-emetic for patients receiving cisplatinum therapy, no advantage accrues to the use of doses in excess of 3 mg/kg (total dose).